Be Your Future Self Now

Dr. Benjamin Hardy is an organizational psychologist. He is the author or coauthor of the bestsellers Willpower Doesn't Work, Personality Isn't Permanent, Who Not How, and The Gap and The Gain. His blogs are read by more than 100 million people and have been featured on CNBC, Forbes, Fortune, Big Think, and elsewhere. From 2015 - 2018, Dr. Hardy was the #1 writer on Medium.. Dr. Hardy is the founder of Slipstream Time Hacking, a business consulting and training company. He is a graduate of Clemson University and Brigham Young University.

Psychologists used to believe in "determinism" — that your life and career today is the direct byproduct and synthesis of your past. Modern research has shown this is in fact false. Research now proves quite definitively that a person's past does not dictate today's actions and behaviors. Instead, we can be pulled forward by a clear vision of what we want to be in the future.

Put another way, articulating your "Future Self" can be the magnet that draws you forward to achieve that. It can be your personal growth engine. Your vision of your Future Self, and the connections you make to it, can influence the quality of your life and behaviors now. If you start being the kind of person you want to be in the future right now, that's the kind of person you'll become.

1. The Concept. Identify who and what you want to be in the future, and you set your mind to work achieving that. Once you start acting like your Future Self now, you'll start growing that way in reality.

2. 7 Threats to Your Future Self. There are seven threats to your Future Self that you should be aware of. Any of these threats can derail your Future Self, so watch for them and avoid them like the plague.

3. 7 Truths About Your Future Self. There are seven core truths about your Future Self you need to know. Armed with these truths, you'll be equipped to shape and dictate a more powerful Future Self.

4. 7 Steps to Your Future Self. There are seven steps involved in being your Future Self now. Apply these steps thoughtfully and you can accelerate the arrival of your Future Self.

1. Articulating your Future Self can be the driving force that draws you forward to achieve that. Be bold, and specific.
2. Your vision of your Future Self can influence your life here and now. If you start being the kind of person you want to be in the future right now, that's the kind of person you will become.
3. Everything is created mentally before it is achieved physically. Visualize and articulate your Future Self, and you have to start growing that way. The future can and will pull you forward.

Great new book from Dr. Benjamin Hardy, an organizational psychologist who is gaining quite a reputation as an author. In BE YOUR FUTURE SELF NOW, Dr. Hardy makes the point that at one time, psychologists used to believe in "determinism" — that your life and career today is the direct result of your past experiences. Research has now shown quite definitively that is in fact incorrect. Humans are not pushed by their past. Instead, they are pulled forward by a clear view of what they want to be in the future — or "intentional transformation".

The perfect example of this "Act forward" concept which is given in the book is that of Jimmy Donaldson, aka MrBeast. In 2015, Jimmy was a 17-year-old high school student who liked making YouTube videos. He filmed four videos, speaking to himself 6-months, 1-year, 5-years, and 10-years into the future. He described what he wanted to achieve by each of those milestones, and most importantly, started being bolder and more innovative. As he started acting more like his "Future Self" rather than his present self, his viewer numbers soared. By the time his 5-year video aired in 2020, MrBeast had more than 40 million subscribers for his YouTube channel, 30 full-time employees, and an annual revenue stream exceeding $100 million.

The science of intentional transformation states that once you're clear and committed about what your Future Self looks like, you then start noticing only those things that will take you in that direction. You start becoming your Future Self simply by having a clear vision. It is feasible to achieve higher and higher goals in the future if you're intentional and committed. That's got to be a compelling message everyone needs to hear today. Be your Future Self now. Sounds great.